Turning Off Noisy Notifications and Using Focus Assist

The Notification Problem

Windows 10 and 11 notify you about everything: emails, app updates, news, tips, reminders, system events, and more. What was meant to be helpful has become a constant stream of interruptions that destroy your focus and productivity.

The good news? You have complete control over notifications. Let's silence the noise and keep only what matters.

Quick Fix: Turn On Focus Assist

Focus Assist is Windows' "Do Not Disturb" mode. To enable it quickly:

1. Click the notification icon in the taskbar (bottom-right, looks like a speech bubble)
2. Click Focus assist at the bottom
3. Choose Priority only or Alarms only

Or use the keyboard shortcut: Windows + N, then click Focus assist.

Now you'll only see notifications you've marked as priority (or none at all if you chose Alarms only). This alone will dramatically reduce interruptions.

Understanding Windows Notification Settings

Windows has three levels of notification control:

1. Focus Assist (System-Wide)

Temporarily silences all or most notifications. Think of it as a master switch.

2. Notification Settings (Per-App)

Controls which apps can show notifications and how they appear.

3. Action Center

Where notifications collect when they do appear. You can clear them or interact with them here.

Setting Up Focus Assist Properly

1. Open Settings (Windows + I)
2. Go to System > Focus assist
3. Choose your default mode:
   • Off: All notifications show up
   • Priority only: Only notifications you choose get through
   • Alarms only: Complete silence except alarms

Setting Priority Notifications

If you chose "Priority only," click Customize your priority list:

• Check Calls if you use calling apps
• Check Reminders for calendar alerts
• Add specific apps that you always want to hear from (Slack, Teams, etc.)
• Add specific contacts whose messages are urgent

Automatic Rules

Scroll down to Automatic rules and configure:

During these times: Set specific hours (like 9 AM - 5 PM workday) to automatically enable Focus Assist.

1. Toggle ON
2. Set your work hours
3. Choose "Priority only" or "Alarms only"

When duplicating my display: Automatically enable when you're presenting or screen sharing.

When playing a game: Prevents notifications during full-screen games.

Controlling Individual App Notifications

To silence specific noisy apps:

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications
2. Scroll down to see all apps that can send notifications
3. Find noisy apps and toggle them OFF

Common culprits to disable:

• Microsoft Edge (unless you actively want website notifications)
• Windows Security (keeps notifying about minor scans)
• Microsoft Store (app update notifications)
• News and interests (weather and news pop-ups)
• Windows tips (suggestions you don't need)

Customizing App Notification Behavior

Instead of disabling entirely, you can customize how apps notify you:

1. Click an app in the Notifications settings
2. You can control:
   • Notification banners: Pop-ups that appear temporarily
   • Notification sound: Audio alert
   • Show in Action Center: Appears in notification panel but no pop-up
   • Number on taskbar: Badge count on app icon

For example, set Email to show in Action Center but no banner—you'll see messages when you check, but won't be interrupted.

Silencing Windows' Own Notifications

Windows itself is often the noisiest. Here's how to quiet it:

Windows Tips and Suggestions

1. Settings > System > Notifications
2. Scroll to bottom and uncheck:
   • "Suggest ways I can finish setting up my device"
   • "Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows"
   • "Show the Windows welcome experience after updates"

Windows Update Notifications

You can't disable these entirely (and shouldn't—security matters), but you can reduce them:

1. Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options
2. Turn OFF "Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating"

This stops the frequent "restart your PC" nags. You'll still see update notifications, just fewer of them.

Security and Maintenance Notifications

1. Type control panel in Start, open it
2. Go to Security and Maintenance
3. Click Change Security and Maintenance settings on the left
4. Uncheck notifications you don't need (but keep security ones checked)

Email and Calendar Notification Control

If you use Windows Mail or Outlook:

1. Open the Mail app
2. Click the gear icon > Notifications
3. Choose "Show a notification banner" for priority emails only
4. Or disable banners entirely and just check mail when convenient

For Calendar:

1. Open Calendar app
2. Settings > Notifications
3. Choose how many minutes before events you want reminders

Browser Notification Madness

Websites constantly ask to send you notifications. Here's how to stop this:

Microsoft Edge

1. Edge Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications
2. Toggle Ask before sending to OFF
3. Remove any sites you accidentally allowed

Google Chrome

1. Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Notifications
2. Toggle Sites can ask to send notifications to OFF
3. Block any sites that snuck through

Firefox

1. Firefox Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications
2. Click Settings
3. Remove allowed sites, click Block new requests

The Action Center: Managing What Gets Through

The Action Center (Windows + A) is where notifications collect. You can customize it:

1. Settings > System > Notifications
2. Configure:
   • "Show notifications on the lock screen" (turn OFF for privacy)
   • "Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on the lock screen" (your choice)
   • "Number of notifications visible in Action Center" (reduce if cluttered)

Keyboard Shortcuts for Quick Control

• Windows + A: Open Action Center to see/clear notifications
• Windows + N: Open notification area and Focus assist
• Hover over notification: Click X to dismiss, or click Settings gear to disable that app

Special Cases: Teams, Slack, Discord

Work and communication apps have their own notification settings separate from Windows:

Microsoft Teams

Teams > Settings > Notifications > customize what notifications you get and whether they use banners

Slack

Slack > Preferences > Notifications > set quiet hours and notification schedule

Discord

User Settings > Notifications > suppress @everyone and @here, customize per-server

Configure these apps internally first, then decide if you want Windows to also show banners.

Creating a Notification Strategy

The goal isn't zero notifications—it's useful notifications only.

Recommended Setup

1. Enable Focus Assist automatically during work hours
2. Set priority list for urgent contacts and apps (boss, family, critical work tools)
3. Disable banners for email, news, tips, and social media
4. Keep banners for calendar reminders, messaging apps from important contacts
5. Check Action Center manually a few times a day for non-urgent notifications

This way, truly urgent things interrupt you, but everything else waits until you're ready.

Still Getting Interrupted Too Much?